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Mimi’s Nutcracker
What began as a mother-daughter Nutcracker tradition turned into a decades-long ritual of ballet, birthdays, ornaments, and one ill-fated craft project. From toddler naps in velvet theater chairs to half-painted wooden Nutcrackers, this is a story about love, tradition, and embracing imperfection. Continue reading
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What He Wasn’t Supposed to See (Christmas Edition)
Some gifts are returned. Some are forgotten. And some linger quietly, waiting for the wrong moment to be discovered. A Christmas story about a gift card, a wallet, and the day my son learned something he can never unsee. Continue reading
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Toddler Carpools and Kidz Bop Taylor Swift
Another Sunday, another ulcer. The Bears lose, my neighbors think we’re killing each other, and I’m surviving on Tums and tequila like it’s a balanced diet. Forget new quarterbacks—Halas should cover therapy sessions and alcohol counseling for every fan still masochistic enough to watch. Continue reading
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The Target Trap
What starts as a simple Target run for shampoo and deodorant quickly unravels into a full-blown adventure: the misleading “Dollar” Spot, hypnotic endcaps, the siren call of office supplies, and an Ulta detour that ends with unexpected lip gloss. Proof that no one escapes Target unscathed, or under budget. Continue reading
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Oatmeal Mondays and Missing Shoes
Back-to-school mornings weren’t routines; they were combat drills. Shoes went missing like fugitives, socks sparked U.N.-level debates, oatmeal morphed into rainbow sludge, and extracurriculars felt like Dante’s eighth circle of hell. Looking back, it was exhausting, hilarious, and pure chaos. But it was our chaos, and somehow, we all managed to survive. Continue reading
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What They Don’t Tell You About Letting Go
I reflect on my son’s birthday and the bittersweet joy of raising two boys and a daughter. From chaotic childhood moments to watching them navigate adulthood, I have come to embrace the shift from protector to supporter. Love, laughter, and letting go—this is motherhood in all its loud, messy, and beautiful glory. Continue reading
The Creative Quill 